Santa Clara County New Regional Stay At Home Order Effective Sunday, December 6

Press release from the City of Palo Alto:

December 4, 2020

Today the Santa Clara County Public Health Officer joined five other Bay Area jurisdictions to announce that it will implement the State’s Regional Stay at Home Order effective Sunday, December 6 through at least January 4, with the potential for longer temporary restrictions based on hospitalizations and ICU capacity. Santa Clara County joined the Counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, and San Francisco, as well as the City of Berkeley, in taking more aggressive action and not waiting for regional ICU capacity to fall under 15%, as mandated by Thursday’s State Stay at Home Order. More information on the State’s Regional Stay at Home Order, including the limitations on businesses and activities, can be found here. The move to expedite the restrictions for most of the Bay Area is to ensure the health care system can provide care as it manages the extreme surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Santa Clara County has already fallen under 15% ICU capacity.

The Order prohibits private gatherings of any size, closes businesses and operations except for critical infrastructure, and requires face coverings and physical distancing in all other interactions 100% of the time. Retail businesses must reduce indoor operations to 20% capacity and restaurants must close all indoor and outdoor dining and may offer take-out or delivery. Playgrounds and indoor recreation facilities must close. The Public Health Officers noted that they aim to lift restrictions as soon as they can. The goal is to save lives and ensure that the health care system can support community members with other critical health care needs. If you need help and have a health care need, please contact your doctor or go to the hospital.

In Palo Alto, the shift for restaurants to only offer takeout and delivery triggers a temporary reopening of California Avenue, University Avenue, and Ramona Street to vehicular traffic to facilitate easy community access to retail and restaurant options. As a result, California Avenue and University Avenue, and Ramona Street will reopen to vehicular traffic as of Tuesday, December 8 at 8 a.m. The City is pivoting quickly to help restaurants with signage to connect community members to take-out, and curbside pick-up and delivery options. For a quick guide on the Public Health Order restrictions, go to the Santa Clara County’s Public Health Department Twitter post here.We are in this together and our combined actions will save lives. Stay safe and be well Palo Alto!

This press release was produced by the City of Palo Alto. The views expressed here are the author’s own.